RANFURLY SHIELD

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 270, 11 August 1938, Page 18

RANFURLY SHIELD

Otago Beat Canterbury By Comfortable Margin

BRIGHT AND FAST GAME Bv Telegraph—Press. Association. Dunedin, August 10. The Ranfurly Shield, won from SouthInml 10 days ago, was successfully defended by Otago against Canterbury this afternoon by the comfortable margin of 16 points to 7. The Carisbrook ground had made a good recovery from the wet. weather of last week. The weather was fine and a crowd of about 10,000 sa a game that was bright and fast without producing any outstanding Rugby. Before the match the Otago side was not considered a particularly strong one, but it proved a sounder combination back and forward than Canterbury. The c ial-len'-ers won more than their share of the ball from scrums and line-outs, but the form of their backs was disappointing, and it was not until late in the game, when their chances of winning were gone, that they were in charge for a period. Even then Otago’s defence was not seriously threatened. Otago’s 16 points were made up of two tries, two penalty goals and one field goal. Canterbury scored a field goal and a penalty goal. The Canterbury forwards started oft by winning the ball consistently in the opening stages, and it appeared that their backs had only to link up well for Otago to be in trouble. The honours of possession from scrums, line-outs and rucks remained witli Canterbury throughout the "•ame, but a pronounced weakness close to the scrum and the inability of the visiting backs to handle safely and attack with any thrust in their passing movements made it possible for the Otago forwards and inside backs to break through repeatedly. The play of the Canterbury inside backs left the men outside cramped on the touchlines. Otago’s defence was excellent and the loose forwards and all the backs were Quick to take advantage of opportunities given, by breakdowns. Gillies and Neiper did a tremendous amount of valuable covering work, and both started a number of strong counterthrusts. There was little between the two packs except in the matter of securing the ball. Vorrath set the Otago, pack a fine example, playing one of his best games and lending many dangerous rushes. H,' scored one try himself and was directly responsible for the best try of the da 4 * Fine Full-back Game.

The failure of their backs made the lot of the Canterbury packmen an unfortunate one. Their display merited better support from the back division. Nolan, the Canterbury full-back, played a very fine game, fielding, tackling, and kicking safely and at times brilliantly, but he was the only Canterbury back to earn unqualified praise. Hadlee, at centre, showed some dash, but was handicapped by the poor football of the men inside him, and the wingers did not get a chance to use t,heir pace. In marked contrast there were no obvious weaknesses in the Otago back line. P. Howden played a serviceable game behind the scrum: Trevathan was in good form. Gillies was the most aggressive of the inside backs on either side, and Perriam was always looking for openings. The two wingers, McCartney and Werner, showed dash and determination, and made the most of their limited opportunities. Hamilton did not start confidently at fullback, but played sound and orthodox football.

Trevathan gave Otago an early lead by kicking a penalty goal at his third attempt, but Canterbury was in front for the only time when White kicked a field goal. It was a good kick and the ball just'skimmed the bar. Vorrath was the leading spirit in a short passing rush which travelled right into Canterbury’s corner. The ball came back to him and he threw a long pass infield for Gillies to send Perriam and McCartney away, and the latter scored a fine try. Vorrath and Neiper were prominent in a burst from a line-out soon afterward and Vorrath scored, giving Otago a 9-4 lead at halftime.

A fine field goal by Trevathan made it 13-4 after a quiet opening to the second half. Hadlee missed two long penalty shots for Canterbury and White took the next and put it over. Trevathan had been narrowly missing with his goal kicking and Perriam took a shot from a fair angle and made the final score 16-7.